World Geography Standards Of Learning (SOL) Practice Test

Which waterway linked the Great Lakes to the Atlantic and contributed to New York City's growth in trade?

Erie Canal Suez Canal Panama Canal St. Lawrence Seaway

Correct Answer:

Erie Canal

Explanation:

The key idea is a water route that made inland goods easy to move all the way to a major Atlantic port. The Erie Canal did exactly that by linking the Great Lakes to the Hudson River, opening a direct, cheaper path to New York City. Once completed, ships could transport farm produce and manufactured goods from the interior to NYC and then onto international markets, helping the city become a leading center of trade and growth. The other options don’t fit this combination: the Suez and Panama Canals connect different oceans but not the Great Lakes, and the St. Lawrence Seaway does connect the Great Lakes to the Atlantic but it came later and is less tied to NYC’s early growth.

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